Expander tool



April 10, 1945. v R, C KUHN 2,373,478

EXPANDER TOOL Y Filed Nor. 22, 194s Patented Apr. 10, 1945 U mi g EXPANDER TOOL Russell C. Kuhn, Livingston, N. J., assgnor to Breeze Corporations, Inc., Newark, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Appliaunnovember 22, 1943, serial No. 511,363 (cisl-48) 6 Claims'.

This invention relates to hand tools of the pincher type, but more particularly to pryers or spreaders, specifically for use in expanding or separating two members.

An object of the invention is to provide a hand operable spreader for general use, the antithesis of pinchers, and particularly adapted to separate Ithe two members of an extruding die.

A further feature is in the provision cfa simple, easily operable implement of unusual `range Aof action, strength, powerand compactness.

Another purpose is to produceahand spreader tool particularly effective "by reason of its novel design. I

These objects 'are attained by the new .and practical construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, constituting a graphical component of this disclosure, and in which- Figure 1 is an abbreviated side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention as fully expanded.

Figure 2 is a similar but fragmentary View of the same, partly in section to show the construction, and in a nearly closed position.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a perspective detail view showing the jaws and fulcrum pins therebetween,k

The implement, as shown, consists of two oppositely disposed bars I5, of generally rectangular cross section, having their front ends integral with jaws I6, shaped and suited to the work parts with which they will become operatively engaged in performing their function.

Rearwardly of the jaws the bars have transversely drilled openings l1, and distanced therebeyond, in the same plane, are elongated transverse slots i8.

Pairs of links I9 and 20, respectively inner and outer, are arranged on each-side of the bars and areconnected to them by pins 2l and 22, the latter 'being freely movable in the slots I8; each pair of links are pivotally connected at the center of their lengths by rivets 23, and are further provided with spacers 2d carried by the outer links this arrangement-l forrns, in effect, the well known lazy tong device.

Lugs 25, raised on the outer surfaces of the bars l5, near the jaws, are provided with openings 26 to receive hinge pins 2l, by which are connected the forked ends 28 of levers 23, having 'cylindrical terminals 30, set in tubular handles 3l and secured by rivets 32; the outer portions of the handles are extended to such length as may be desired and knurled, as indicated, to provide an eicient grip.- j l,

Fixed on the pins 2l, toy contact the forks 28, are `collars 33, outwardly beyond which the pins are drilled tor receive the ends of helical tension springs 34, tending to draw the jaw carrying bars I5 towards each other. v

yThesebars-are drilled through from top to bottom, as at 35, and have counterbores 36 in their adjacent surfaces; fitted to the drilled' holes are hardened pins'37 having enlarged rounded heads 38 in direct contactbetween the bars, while their outery yends 39, `extending` through the' bars, are chamferred and rounded in the manner of cams to engage in"recesses40 formed in the un'der sides of the levers 29 to act as a fulcrum for them.

When the jaws I6 are in a substantially closed position, the fulcrum pin heads 38 may enter the counterbores `lili, under the tensional stress of the pair of springs 34, in which event the lever hand1es 3l will extend outwardly, at an angle,

asindicated in Figure 2.

Upon pressing the handles forcibly towards each other, the fulcrum pins 31 act to separate the jaws and cause partial closing of the lazy tong or toggle elements, which operate to maintain the jaws at all times in register, as indicated f in Figure 1.

claimed as new and sought to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An expander, comprising a pair of opposed jaws movable toward and from each other, each of said jaws having a handle pivofted thereto at the side remote from the opposed jaw, fulcrum pins slidably disposed in alined openings in said jaws at a predetermined distance rearwardly of the pivots of said handles whereby the inner ends of said pins abut against each other while their outer ends are engaged by the respective handles, the organization being such thatv as the handles are moved toward each other they fulcrum on the outer ends of said pins and force the jaws apart, and resilient means operatively associated with said jaws for moving them toward each other` when pressure on the handles is released.

2. An expander, comprising a pair of opposed jaws movable toward and from each other, means to maintain said jaws in permanent parallel relation, each of said jaws lhaving a handle pivoted thereto at the side remote fromthe opposed jaw, fulcrum pins slidably disposed in alined openings in said jaws at a predetermined distance rearwardly of the pivots of said handles whereby the inner ends of said pins abut against each other While their outer ends are engaged 4by the respective handles, the organization being such that as the handles are moved toward each,

other they fulcrum on the outer ends of said pins and force the jaws apart, and a pair of springs connected at their opposite ends to said jaws for moving them toward each other when pressure on the handles is released.

3. An expander comprising a, pair of bars having jaws at their forward ends, lazy tongs pivotally connecting said lbars for parallel :movementtoward and from each other, hand levers pivoted to said bars at the sides thereof remote from each other, a fdlcrum element, slidably disposed in eachof said bars, said fulcrum elements being in alinement 'with each other and extending beyond the bars at the pivoted sides thereof for `cintactjwith said ylevers whereby as the 1evers are moved toward'eachl other they fulcrum on said elements and force the bars apart, and tension Y'springs connected tofsaid bars and acting Y'inopposition to said levers thereby normally to draw said bars'toward'each other.

i f4, j 'expander y comprising two opposed straight b'ars, work-.engagealble jaws integral with the 'outer ends `of said bars, toggle links connecting the'bar's in parallel relation, fulcrum-pins slidable in said bars in alinement with each other, hand levers pivotally connected to said bars at the sides thereof remote from each other and operable to press against the outer ends of said pins thereby to spread the bars apart, and

.resi-lient means connecting said bars and operative normally to draw the bars toward each other.

5. An expander comprising a pair of work-engagea-ble jaw-carrying fbars having lugs on the sides thereof remote from each other, means to ,maintain said jaws in alined parallelism, a hand lever pivoted to each of said lugs, a fulcrum pin slidably mounted in each bar adjacently rear- Ward of thelugs, said pins having contacting heads, and curved ends extending beyond the pivoted sides of said bars into position to engage said levers, and resilient means connected to the bars and operative to normally draw said bars towards each other.

y 6. An expander comprising a pair of opposed lbars having raised lugs on the sides thereof remote'from eaxch other, Work-engageable jaws integral with the outer ends of said bars, pairs 'of toggle links connecting the bars to `maintain them parallel, hinge pins in said lugs, hand levers pivoted on said pins, said levers having recesses in their proximate surfaces, tension springs fattached at their opposite ends to the pins in the. respective lugs, a fulcrum pin `slidahle through each barat avpoint rearwardly of the pivot of the hand lever, said pins -being inalinement With each other and having heads adapted for mutual contact and vouter curved ends extending beyond the bars to engage in the recesses of said levers.

- 'RUSSELL C. KUHN. 

